ADDISON – Turning August lessons into September and October victories is Willowbrook’s goal.

The Warriors’ record fell to 0-4-0 Tuesday with a 3-0 loss to Sycamore (1-2-0) in the Joe Novy Classic Tournament at Addison Trail in a match called during halftime due to prolonged lightning in the area.

After the game was declared over, Willowbrook used the unexpected 40 minutes of free time for a long postgame talk – followed by a players-only meeting.

“Obviously the frustration is building for the entire team, and I have three captains in there (seniors Mario Giase, David Rizzo and Jeff Wolski) that know it’s unacceptable to put on that performance,” said coach Ed DeLaCruz.

“Sometimes as a coach you have to take a step back, and they want to hear a different voice. That’s why you have those captains, to step on up. That’s pretty much what they’re doing in that team room now.”

Post meeting, the Warriors were determined that the growing pains will turn into improved play.

“We just have to learn that we can’t take any team lightly,” Giase said. “We saw this team was 0-2-0 also, and we just came out like we didn’t expect them to come out hot.

“So we just have to start stronger offensively and defensively, keep our counterattacks and make sure we get our passes to feet.”

Giase’s steadying influence as a veteran varsity goalkeeper, and Rizzo’s play at midfield (he's tied with Dorian Mahone for the team lead in goals with two) provide a strong foundation for the Warriors to build on.

“My goalkeeper Mario Giase, this is his third year as starting goalkeeper, and he’s one of my best players,” DeLaCruz said. “He’s played that position pretty much his entire career, and he’s definitely one of our leaders.

“And my outside mid David Rizzo has been having a fantastic season so far. Those two definitely stand out.”

Both seniors have seized leadership roles at their respective spots on the field.

“Just talking to our attackers, and maybe I can mentor them in a way where I can explain what playing on varsity is,” Rizzo said. “Sometimes this is their first game; there’s some sophomores on the team.”

The adjustments have been most evident at the defensive end.

“Before today’s game we were averaging about two goals for (per game),” DeLaCruz said. “I’ll take that. We’ve been scoring goals, but unfortunately we’ve been averaging giving up about four (a game).

“We have a brand new back four line. Today I had to start two sophomores at outside fullbacks.”

Said Giase: “We’re riddled with injuries on the backline – it’s really tough. I think my role is just to teach these young defenders how to play at the varsity level and make sure they’re confident. And just save some shots.”

Sycamore had entered Tuesday with similar early-season questions but found answers in a strategy switch and opportunistic offense.

“We changed formations,” Sycamore coach David Bachta said. “Things hadn’t been working for us. We allowed six goals in our first two games. We were letting teams get behind us. It was very difficult.

“But instead of adding more defenders we put more guys in the midfield, and went from a 4-4-2 to a 3-5-2. And it seemed by adding a little more midfield we were able to keep control of the ball better.”

Willowbrook had a quality chance at the lead four minutes in, when forward Eric Hoda’s shot went just wide of the left post.

The Warriors’ defense was also on its game at the start. Aaron Guallpa cleared a Sycamore corner kick in the eighth minute, and Willowbrook’s Thomas Waldorf made a nice play to deny a Mason McGhee 1-v.-1 attack in the box.

But McGhee’s next good chance would be the proverbial first lightning strike of the match.

Off a 14th-minute throw-in, McGhee broke in with daylight on the right wing and drove a low 18-yard shot inside the left post for a 1-0 Sycamore lead.

“Honestly just our ball movement was very important,” said McGhee, the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match. “And I think communication has been a big factor for us. Going forward we just have to keep communicating to keep this going.”

Down 1-0, Willowbrook would respond to the first salvo.

Just 90 seconds after McGhee’s goal, passes by Hoda and then Rizzo sprung Norman Deci into the box. But Sycamore goalkeeper Aaron Eckard dove on the loose ball.

Then in the 18th minute, an end line cross by Willowbrook’s Hugo Gutierrez was headed just over the net by Devin Guallpa.

But after strong offensive showings in earlier games, it was an overall frustrating day for Willowbrook scorers.

“We just needed to pass the ball more, and move it better,” Rizzo said. “On offense we need to attack as a team.

“This game it was me, the striker and the other winger, and there’s three guys on us right away. Our next player would be at the 50, and we can’t do anything there. To go 2-v.-5 or 3-v.-5 is basically impossible.”

At the defensive end, Sycamore turned seemingly improbable chances into goals late in the half-shortened game.With 14 minutes left, a high Miles Guiborat corner kick found Drew Tronc 16 yards out. Tronc somehow struck the distance header with enough power to drive it into the upper left corner of the net for a 2-0 lead.

“Their second goal the guy was close to the 18 and was unmarked,” DeLaCruz said. “It was a nice header, but I’d say there was no player of mine within two or three yards of him.

“Our backline is not very tall, I get it. But at the same time you don’t have to be tall. I was an outside fullback myself and you just have to body (opponents) as much as you can. Anything that can alter the jumping ability (on a header try).”

Sycamore’s third goal with 6:46 left in the half was another frustrating but fixable defensive play. Guiborat dribbled through two defenders and lined a 12-yard shot home for a 3-0 lead.

“It’s just about being a little more physical (on defense),” DeLaCruz said. “Our third goal given up today was a 2-v.-1 for us, and their guy split us.

“That’s not how we coach it or teach it. Let’s get out and be a little more physical. That’s the main thing I can definitely see.

“But give it up to Sycamore,” DeLaCruz added. “They came with energy and motivation to play. There were two teams that hadn’t won.”

While a few mistakes spoiled the day for Willowbrook, the Warriors haven’t lost confidence in the rest of a very young season.

“Definitely passing is our main focus,” Rizzo said. “If we have possession, and we win the midfield, we win the game.”

With more time and experience, the Warriors hope to turn the page on the early season learning curve.

“Overall it’s just keeping their composure and continuing to go to work, that’s for sure,” DeLaCruz said.